The Basic Magic classroom was completely different from the Ancestral Hall. It was a large, circular space, with the vaulted ceiling painted to represent the night sky, magical constellations shining softly. The walls were adorned with arcane diagrams and complex magical formulas. In the center of the room, an invocation circle was carved into the marble floor, surrounded by benches arranged in ascending semicircles.
Logan, Blake, and Kassia sat in the third row, with their new acquaintances taking the seats around them. The buzz of conversation lessened as the door opened and the professor entered.
She was an impressive woman—tall and slender, with golden skin that seemed to glow under the magical light. Her hair, long and wavy, was an undefinable color, subtly shifting from gold to red as she moved. Her eyes were like liquid amber, and when she smiled, Logan felt a wave of warmth wash through the room.
"Good morning, young mages," she said, her voice melodious and clear. "I am Professor Lyria Flameheart, and I will be your Basic Magic instructor this year."
She walked to the center of the invocation circle, her emerald robes floating gracefully around her.
"Magic," she began, raising her hands, "is the art of manipulating mana, the life energy that permeates all living beings and the world itself." As she spoke, small golden lights began to dance around her fingers, like enchanted fireflies.
"Mana is in everything," Professor Flameheart continued, allowing the lights to float around the room, briefly landing on students' shoulders before returning to her hands. "In the air we breathe, the earth beneath our feet, the water we drink, the fire that warms us. And, most importantly, within each of you."
She closed her hands, and the lights condensed into a shining sphere. "There are two main ways to utilize mana," she explained, opening her hands again to reveal the sphere floating between her palms. "The first is magic proper, where we project mana outside our bodies, transforming it into external effects."
With a fluid motion, she tossed the sphere upward, where it exploded into a shower of golden sparks that transformed into small butterflies of light, flying around the room before dissolving.
"The second form is ability, where we channel mana within our own bodies or objects, temporarily enhancing them."
Professor Flameheart paused, her gaze carefully scanning the students' faces. "Now, before we proceed with the practical exercises, I need to explain something fundamental about the nature of magic," she said, her voice taking on a more solemn tone. "You have already undergone the Awakening at fifteen. The Awakening is not just a rite of passage, but a moment of profound magical transformation."
She moved to the center of the invocation circle, where the light seemed to naturally converge on her. "When the Awakening occurs, the first ability and magic that manifest are special, unique," she continued, making small golden circles appear at her fingertips. "They are called
The golden circles expanded, forming a spiral that enveloped her entire body. "What makes the Primordial Manifestation so extraordinary is its capacity for evolution. While other magics and abilities you learn will remain relatively static, requiring new spells for more powerful effects, the Primordial Manifestation grows with you," she smiled, dissipating the spiral with a gentle movement. "The more you use it, the more you connect with it, the more powerful and versatile it will become. It is like a seed that, with time and proper care, can grow into a majestic tree."
Some students exchanged impressed glances; others seemed to reflect deeply on their own manifestations.
"Therefore," the professor continued, "never underestimate or neglect your first manifestations, however simple they might seem initially. A light spell can evolve into pure energy manipulation; an enhanced perception ability can develop into clairvoyance. The potential is limited only by your dedication and the nature of your connection to mana."
She smiled again, returning to a lighter tone. "Now, let's begin with a basic ability that, with practice, can become extraordinarily useful."
To demonstrate, she closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, they were glowing intensely, as if containing golden flames. "This is an ability called
She blinked, and her eyes returned to normal. "Now, let's try. Close your eyes, feel the mana within you. Imagine it flowing to your eyes, warming them like the gentle heat of the sun."
Logan closed his eyes, concentrating. He had done this before, during his training with the Ancestral Qilin, but never with this specific name. He felt the familiar tingling sensation as he directed his mana, visualizing it as a river flowing into his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, the world looked different—sharper, with more defined outlines. He could see details in the shadows that would have previously gone unnoticed, and small points of heat—his classmates' hands, the professor's body—glowed with an orange aura.
"Very good!" Professor Flameheart exclaimed, observing the class. "I see many of you succeeded on the first try. That is excellent!"
She walked among the students, occasionally stopping to offer guidance. When she reached Logan, she observed him for a moment, a slight frown crossing her face before being replaced by a smile. "Impressive control, Mister Black," she commented, before moving on.
Logan exchanged a glance with Blake, who had also managed to activate the ability, his normally blue eyes now glowing golden. Kassia, beside them, blinked repeatedly, apparently having some difficulty.
"I can't do it," she murmured, frustrated. "Try visualizing the mana as water," Logan suggested in a low voice. "Flowing gently, not forcing it."
Kassia nodded, closed her eyes again, and took a deep breath. When she opened them, they glowed with the same golden hue. "I did it!" she whispered, smiling.
Across the room, an Eryndark student—Marcus Steelheart, the same one who had caused trouble in History class—let out a disdainful laugh. "Look at the little princess from Sky Reaper, so proud of managing a basic ability," he mocked, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I bet she thinks she's special."
Kassia flushed, but before she could respond, Professor Flameheart intervened. "Mister Steelheart, perhaps you'd like to demonstrate your own proficiency?" she suggested, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Marcus hesitated, clearly not expecting to be challenged. He closed his eyes, concentrating, but when he opened them again, they were normal—no golden glow, no sign of the ability activated.
"It seems Miss Grey has reason to be proud, after all," the professor commented, with a slight tone of satisfaction. "Perhaps you should focus more on your own progress and less on criticizing others'."
A ripple of laughter went through the room, and Marcus sank into his seat, his face red with anger and embarrassment.
Professor Flameheart returned to the center of the room, waiting for everyone to deactivate the ability before continuing. "Now, let's move on to magic," she said, extending her hand. A small sphere of water formed above her palm, glowing softly. "
She made a gentle gesture, and the water sphere floated to a small goblet on her desk. "Being a basic magic, the mana consumption is relatively low, as is the amount of water produced. But do not underestimate its utility—in an emergency situation, this simple magic can save lives."
The professor demonstrated the necessary hand movement—a circular gesture followed by a wavy motion reminiscent of flowing water. "Concentrate on the sensation of water," she instructed. "Cool, fluid, vital. Feel your mana transforming, changing its essence to become water."
Logan tried, following the movements precisely. He felt his mana flow into his hands and visualized it changing, transforming into crystalline water. To his surprise, a small drop formed above his palm, slowly growing until it became a sphere the size of a coin.
"Very good, Mister Black!" Professor Flameheart praised, noticing his success. "Now, try to direct the water somewhere, as I did."
Logan concentrated, imagining the water floating to the small wooden cup on his desk. The sphere trembled, moved a few centimeters, and then fell, splashing onto his hand.
"Don't worry if you can't control the movement on the first try," the professor said, noticing the frustration of several students. "Control comes with practice."
She continued circulating through the room, offering advice and corrections. Logan noticed Blake was having difficulty—his natural affinity for ice seemed to interfere, causing the water to freeze before it could fully form. Kassia, on the other hand, had managed to create a perfect sphere.
"Try visualizing the water as liquid, Blake," Logan suggested. "Not as ice." Blake nodded, concentrating again. This time, he managed to keep the water in a liquid state for a few seconds before it began to freeze at the edges. "Better," he said with a satisfied smile. "But I still need practice."
Across the room, Marcus Steelheart was having even more trouble. His frustration was visible, and he was starting to turn red with anger. When he finally managed to form a small drop of water, it exploded in his hand, splashing his face and uniform. Laughter was inevitable, and Marcus stood up, furious. "This is ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "Water magic is for weaklings. Let's see you do this!"
With an abrupt gesture, he launched a small fireball towards Logan. The magic, clearly improvised and poorly controlled, flew across the room like an errant comet.
Logan reacted on instinct. Without thinking, he raised his hand and channeled his mana, creating a water barrier that intercepted the fireball, resulting in an explosion of steam that filled the room.
A stunned silence followed the incident. Professor Flameheart, who had observed everything with a shocked expression, was the first to recover. "Mister Steelheart!" her voice cut through the silence like a blade. "This is absolutely unacceptable! Attacking a classmate is a serious violation of Academy rules. You are dismissed from my class for today, and you will report to Headmaster Gryphon immediately!" Marcus, still trembling with anger, gathered his things and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
The professor turned to Logan, her expression softening. "Mister Black, that was… impressive. Not only did you react quickly, but you also demonstrated remarkable control over magic you just learned. Twenty points to your house."
Logan felt his face flush at the praise. He hadn't planned that reaction—it was pure instinct, as if his body knew what to do even before his mind processed the danger.
"Before we conclude for today, I'd like to show you two more advanced techniques you will learn in the future," she said with a mysterious smile. She raised her hands again, and this time, small flames danced on her fingers, forming complex patterns in the air. "
Next, she closed her eyes, and her body began to glow softly. When she opened her eyes again, she moved with impressive speed, disappearing from where she stood and instantly reappearing on the other side of the room. "
She returned to the center of the room at a normal pace. "We won't be trying these today, of course. But I want you to think about how they work. In the next class, we will discuss your theories and perhaps, if you are prepared, we will attempt
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. "For next class, I want you to practice both
Logan, Blake, and Kassia stood up, excitedly discussing the class as they headed for the door. "That
"Both are impressive," Logan agreed as they stepped into the corridor. "But we'll need a lot of practice before we get there." They had barely taken a few steps when a figure approached—a middle-aged woman with gray hair pulled into a severe bun and thin-rimmed glasses balanced on the tip of her nose. "Mister Black, Mister Frost, Miss Grey," she said, her voice precise and formal. "I am Madame Everett, Headmaster Gryphon's secretary. He would like to see you in his office immediately."
The three exchanged apprehensive glances. "Did something happen?" Logan asked, feeling a knot form in his stomach.
"The Headmaster will explain everything," Madame Everett replied, her tone revealing nothing. "Please, follow me."
As they walked through the Academy corridors, following the secretary's quick, precise steps, Logan couldn't help but wonder what Headmaster Gryphon could want with them. Was it about his connection with Fenrir? Or something related to the growing tension between the kingdoms? Whatever the reason, he was sure of one thing—things were about to get much more complicated.